TWO CENTS ON HEMP

QUESTION: Should the nation's war on drugs extend to hemp
products?

Jim Bowden, Sonoma

Sure, if we're going to be stupid, why not go all the way? Ban hemp
and all its useful products. Let the Canadians grow it. They need a
good export crop.

Ray Carlson, Redwood City

The real reason for anti-hemp sentiment is entirely corporate. Its
usefulness threatens the plastic, artificial fiber, petroleum and
timber industries, just to name a few. The banning of hemp is the
failed war on drugs carried to its most dangerous extreme.

Dorris Lee, Livermore

Absolutely not. Hemp is a sustainable resource for making paper,
fabric and numerous other products that now devour trees, oil and
other nonsustainables. The ban on hemp and its products is ill-
informed, ignores environmental concerns and is one of the "war's"
biggest mistakes.

Ernie Mansfield, Berkeley

No. The hemp plant cultivated to produce clothing and other items does
not have any significant quantity of THC, the drug found in marijuana.
The "war on drugs" should concentrate on fighting the real drug
problems: heroin, cocaine, crack and other seriously addictive drugs.

Suzanne Gold, Larkspur

Does anyone really believe someone will become intoxicated by smoking
their hemp vest? Or drinking their hemp moisturizer? Replacing cotton
with naturally insect-resistant hemp would go far to reduce water
pollution. But our misguided, pseudo-moralistic leadership can't see
that far.

Maya Elmer, Berkeley

No. We have a much more serious problem with the drugs like crack,
methamphetamines and other designer drugs. The monies spent combatting
hemp should go to rehab centers, counseling, after-school programs,
and to look further into the causes of drug use -- poverty and other
social ills.

Robert Goldman, South San Francisco

Hemp is one of the most useful products that we can cultivate. Because
it's related to pot, we've prohibited its cultivation. This is as
crazy as the drug war itself. This week, we lost a helicopter and
started a major wildfire due to the drug war. I need a drink!

Two Cents is a pool of Chronicle readers we tap for anecdotes and
commentary.